A fight broke out on Delafield Street in April 2015 over a parking spot and ended up someone having a broken jaw and several former Rutgers football players facing serious assault charges--and the whole thing is now on videotape, according to a judge.
NEW BRUNSWICK -- Describing it as "almost barbaric" and "bizarre," the judge in the assault case against six former Rutgers University football players said the defendants must watch a video that captured the alleged incident.
"If the community saw what I saw, they would be outraged," Superior Court Judge Dennis Nieves said during a bail-reduction hearing for one of the former players, Tejay Johnson. "I can't forget this."
The video shows one of the attackers "blindsiding" a victim in a dispute over a parking spot on Delafield Street in April, the judge said. When the victim fell to the ground with a broken jaw, others began stomping him, Nieves said. Johnson and five others were charged with aggravated assault in the incident.
One of the defendants, Nieves said, allegedly recorded the video. The defendants will watch the video at a court hearing next month, Nieves said.
The judge's comments came as he considered how much to lower bail for Johnson.
Johnson is the only Rutgers student and ex-football player charged in the alleged Delafield Street assault as well as three alleged home invasions. A fourth home invasion took place in December, authorities said. Taken together, the incidents have led to the arrests of 12 people, including a total of nine former football players. The case has rocked the Rutgers University football program, already beset by an academic scandal that led to the head coach's suspension.
Nieves lowered Johnson's total bail from $625,000 bail to $300,000. Johnson had already posted $100,000 after his first arrest for one of the home invasions and will have to post $200,000 to be released for two more armed robbery charges.
RELATED: Who is Tejay Johnson? A closer look at the ex-Rutgers player at the center of arrests
He was arrested Aug. 5 and charged with robbery, criminal restraint, theft, and possession of a weapon for an unlawful purpose stemming from a home invasion on April 26 in New Brunswick.
Johnson, who lives in Egg Harbor Township, was free after posting $100,000 bond until he was arrested along with nine others in early September. All the football players charged in the alleged home invasions and the alleged assault were dismissed from the team by coach Kyle Flood after their arrests.
Razohnn Gross, Delon Stephenson, Daryl Stephenson, Nadir Barnwell and Ruhann Peele were charged in the alleged Delafield assault, along with Johnson.
Andre Boggs, Lloyd Terry and Jamil Pollard were charged in robberies spanning the winter of 2014 and spring of 2015. Rutgers students Jianan Chen and Dylan Mastriana are charged with planning the robberies, Kaylanna Ricks, 19, of Perth Amboy, is accused of driving a getaway car.
Boggs remains in county jail on $350,000 bail.
Johnson's attorney, Richard Lomurro, argued his client was not a flight risk and would return home to Egg Harbor Township.
Middlesex County First Assistant Prosecutor Christopher Kuberiet pointed out that Johnson took pictures of the proceeds from one of the home invasions and posted them on his cell phone--$900 in cash and bags of marijuana.
Kuberiet told the judge Johnson gave a "sworn statement" about his involvement in the events that led to his charges.
The university placed seven students on interim suspension, and five current football players were kicked off the team after the charges were announced.
Sue Epstein may be reached at sepstein@njadvancemedia.com. Follow her on Twitter @susan_epstein. Find NJ.com on Facebook.